Morocco fight back to leave Togo in danger

Morocco gave themselves a chance of making the knockout round of the Africa Cup of Nations with a convincing 3-1 victory over Togo.

The Atlas Lions were on the way out of the tournament with a game to spare when Mathieu Dossevi scored with an early goal.

However, Morocco hit back with two goals in quick succession, Aziz Bouhaddouz heading the first, and Romain Saiss the second, as veteran goalkeeper Kossi Agassa failed repeatedly to catch the flight of the ball.

In the second half, a scrappy game was sealed for Morocco when Youssef En-Nesyri took a shot from distance to score a spectacular third, but again Agassa appeared at fault not to push away the low shot.

Emmanuel Adebayor was an effective defensive presence from set pieces, but the captain could not break down Morocco's defence as things became more desperate.

Kossi Agassa failed to show his experience: At 38, the goalkeeper could have sent his team through. The first goal was his to collect, but he missed the flight of the cross. The second was not his fault but he failed to read the flight of the ball and almost conceded another shortly after. And the third goal was entirely his fault, when he should have pushed away a low shot that he had plenty of time to see coming. It was, sadly for him, one of the most calamitous performances of the tournament so far.

Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco): Both Saiss and Faycal Fajr tormented the Togolese opposition at times, but as they faded in the second half, El Ahmadi was on hand to foul, kick and tackle to break up play. He showed why, with experience at Feyenoord, he is one of the side's star players.

Morocco: Munir 6, Benatia 6, Da Costa 6, Saïss 7, Mendyl 7, Dirar 6, El Ahmadi 7, Boussoufa 6, El Kaddouri 6, Bouhaddouz 7, Fajr 7. Subs: En-Nesyri 7, Bennasser 6, Aliouli 6.

Togo: Agassa 3, Gakpé 6, Romao 5, Akoriko 6, Djené 6, F.Ayité 6, Atakora 5, Bebou 5, Dossevi 6, Adebayor 6, Laba 5. Subs: Segbefia 6, Boukari 6, Agbegniadan 6.

5' - GOAL! Morocco 0-1 Togo. Dossevi scores - Adebayor heads the corner away and Togo break. It's worked to Dossevi with a rolled through ball, and he strikes it across Munir and into the far corner.

14' - GOAL! Morocco 1-1 Togo. Bouhaddouz scores - Romao slices a clearance behind for a corner on the left wing. Agassa misses the flight of the ball, and was obstructed by Da Costa. It falls to Bouhaddouz who heads home easily.

20' - GOAL! Morocco 2-1 Togo. Saiss scores - A free kick from the left is whipped in by Fajr, and Saiss glances it past the 'keeper.

24' - ADEBAYOR CHANCE - Almost an equaliser. Adebayor gets between the two centre backs as he runs onto a through-ball. He holds off Benatia's shove, and toes a shot that Munir palms behind.

41' - BOUSSOUFA SHOT - One corner becomes two. Some confusion as Romao and Adebayor scramble another one behind. The third comes out to Boussoufa, and he lashes a volley at goal that is lifted just over the bar by Djene.

72' - GOAL! Morocco 3-1 Togo. En-Nesyri scores - The winger lets fly from distance and it whistles past Agassa, beaten once again

Togo have won just one of their 12 ACON matches.